Thank you so very much! ...such great ideas here. Bill, thank you for setting me straight with "counting"!!!!!!

***places bag over head*** I have no idea where to start with math manipulatives (other than counting and basic patterns). I will be doing a little bit of preschool at home with my 5 year old this year. I think he would totally dig all of the fun math manipulatives (counters, shapes, geoboards etc)....but honestly, I'm not quite sure what I should be saying to him to help him learn from it while we are playing. I think he would think that an abacus is fun...I noticed that there are different types...some have 5 beads in 2 colors, some with all 10 the same color? Is that for learning how to count by fives? What should I expect him to learn before Kindergarten? (we are working on number recognition and counting currently). Is there a good book or website that I can look at...or just any advice? Thanks for any help!

I'm still wondering about this website...if someone can shed some light :)

http://www.teacherestore.com/ I wanted to place an order but when I went to check out I got a website security certificate warning?? Should I worry or just go ahead and order? Thanks!

I used my neighbor's Big Shot and really liked it! I have the first Sizzix die cutter (the old red one). The Big Shot is MUCH easier to use! I like that you can emboss with the Big Shot and that it cuts so many different dies. I think you will like it if you get it :) I also have a Silhouette die cut machine, and sometimes I still wish I had the Big Shot so I could cut felt and fabric easier. Hope this helps :)

I'm totally googling this! LOL!!

ROTFL!!! Too funny! Too funny...because....just the other night when *we* were playing with DS's playdoh volcano (with baking soda and vinegar)...my 2 year old climbed up on the kitchen table and kept dipping her finger in and tasting it!!!! Yuk!

Thanks so much! I'm REALLY new...so I had to google the Sonlight and Saxon stuff....they look so great. Thanks!

Such great ideas here! I really like the nature tank idea. I ordered the preschool art book last night. I am hoping to get the Earthways and the Mudpies book at the library ...thanks everyone :)

My *almost* 5 year old is feeling a little left out as all of his little friends went to Kindergarten today. I told him that we could do some fun "school" projects at home. I will be doing informal preschool activities with him at home this year (he misses the public school deadline for Kindergarten by 2 weeks). Anyway....I'm a little overwhelmed as I have never homes chooled before and it seems like there is almost too much info on the internet to wade through, LOL. Can anyone recommend a favorite Art Project, Science Project, Craft Project, Book or other learning activity that was LOVED by your preschooler? Thanks for any help!!!

Ooooh...he will LOVE these!!!!!! Thank you!

My almost 5 year old has always been inquisitive, but lately I feel like I can’t keep up! LOL…I’m wondering if there are some great science books out there that are written for a preschool-level that I could read to him. Here is a typical day: “Mom, how do rockets work when there is gravity?†“Mom, why can birds sit on a power line and not get hurt?†“Mom, what are seeds made from?†….how broadcast television works, do they have plants at the power plant, LOL, how the baby gets out of the Mom.... specifically, LOL (we already handled that one), what is oil made from, how does the refrigerator work, etc, etc, etc, etc…. Any help would be so very greatly appreciated! Thanks! p.s. Hi! I’m Rachel, I’m new :)